We have several brussel sprout plants that are loaded with small by well developed 'heads'. If I wait for a good hard frost to make them better they will likely overdevelop and be worthless. If I cut the larger ones now, will new ones grow to replace them? Will refrigerating the heads help the flavor? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Need info on Brussel Sprouts, please.
All I know about brussel sprouts is:
1. they are "cold weather" plants related to broccoli and cabbage (Brassica family?) and
2. my mom had better make them for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas dinner or the family is gonna have a cow (brussel sprouts are family TRADITION!) We really gave her grief the one year she DIDN'T serve brussel sprouts at the family holiday meal. She hasn't made that mistake again--LOL!
EvaMae, I prefer them to be on the small size, not overly "huge" like a grocery store b-sprout. When they get too big they get very soft/spongy, not firm.
Here in NC I tend to pick the sprouts as they get in size from the bottom up. Where you pick the sprouts they won't produce more sprouts at that spot but will produce them further up the stalk. It also helps to pull the leaf stalks where the sprouts begin to form (apparently sending energy into the sprout). (It's a pretty site to see a 2 ft tall B-Sprout plant loaded w/sprouts!)
I've refridgerated lots of Brassica in an effort to sweeten them up and it certainly helps (especially collards and cabbage). A COLD fridge is required. (I suppose you could stick them in the deep freeze for a short time tho, not very long tho!)
I can just taste them babies! Fresh-picked, rinsed, cut an X in the fat ends and lightly steam in a butter or butter-substitute (see? I know your diet restrictions!)...give thanks and pig out! Yummy!!!
Here in zone 4 I let them stay in the garden until they have had some frost on them. It makes them taste so good! I have guests who hate brussel sprouts and will have seconds of my home grown brussel sprouts. I agree small heads taste better than big ones. I've never cut off any of the heads until I cut off the whole plant to harvest them all at once. For once my zone 4 is an advantage to gardening. Enjoy those sprouts!
Thanks for the advice. We'll likely have B.S. for supper tonight. I can hardly wait. We love them too, HS.
Yikes!!! Thanksgiving is tomorrow and I forgot the "sprouts"! I'm going out to buy some right now..........
I am in Zone 9 (houston) and planted my b-sprouts as purchased seedlings around early November for my winter veg garden. We have been very cold here with already over half a dozen frosts. I cover with sheets when it frosts. I am just starting to get baby sprouts on a couple of plants. I will trim the leaves back tomorrow to encourage growth (thanks for the tip). I wonder how mine will taste having gone through all those frosts?? This week is forecasted to be warm (70 F)so plants will make a lot of progress.
I have broccolli, too, but I think rats are eating the heads. No leaf damage, just nibbled heads and what I think is rat poop near by.
Others may have something else to say. But, being in a zone 4 where it can be cold in the spring. The frosts that I talk about that enhances that wonderful home grown flavor of b-sprouts are when the sprouts have formed and are mature. It would be interesting to know if it acutally helps when they are smaller too.
I am jealous that you can be out in the garden. Mine is covered with snow.